The urban Maori representative on the new body overseeing Maori language revitalisation says he doesn't believe everyone on the board needs to be an expert speaker.

Broadcaster and Manukau Urban Maori Authority chief executive Willie Jackson was put up for the spot by the National Urban Maori Authority.

The Radio Waatea host says Te Maataawai can't be about arguing about who speaks the best Maori, but it needs to challenge the government about its policies and its funding.

It also needs to look at how Maori are living in cities, the majority of who can't speak Maori, can be incorporated into the strategy.

"For us, for Waatea and what we do, the best way to go forward was always a bilingual strategy. How does that fit with the people who are developing the language strategies for the next generation? How do our city strategies, our Waatea strategies, sit with a Maataawai board?" Mr Jackson says.

The other Maataawai members will be picked by iwi, education, community and media clusters, and two appointed by the Minister for Maori Development.